TJ Perenara, a veteran scrum-half for the All Blacks, is set to play for the Hurricanes this weekend after recovering from a severe Achilles injury that sidelined him for over a year. Perenara ruptured his Achilles in a November 2022 Test against England, missing the entire 2023 season, including the Rugby World Cup in France.
As one of the greats of Super Rugby Pacific, we look at what his comeback means for the tournament and the Hurricanes.
All-time try-scoring record.
Perenara is an outlier, since a scrum-half rarely finds himself at the top of the try-scoring lists. Since his Hurricanes debut in 2012, the star’s prolific nature has been on full display, with 58 tries in 151 games, only two behind all-time leaders Julian Savea and Israel Folau.
Those numbers are astounding given his position, demonstrating his game awareness and ability to exploit defensive line weaknesses. His experience partnering Beauden Barrett in the Hurricanes’ half-pairing on over 100 occasions was particularly successful, shaping the player he is now.
Returning from such a long-term injury is always difficult for athletes, and with this one coming later in his career, it will be interesting to see if Perenara still has that edge that had him under the opponent’s skin or making diving interceptions off the opposing line-out to score.
Whether or not the All Black was as powerful as he once was, there is still a strong sense that he could go on and break the record, especially if Savea appears rejuvenated in the Moana Pasifika colours. Perenara is a natural finisher, and perhaps that will emerge again.
Hurricanes’ depth at scrum half
Before the season began, Perenara affirmed his comeback in the early parts of the tournament, claiming that now that Aaron Smith has left the country, he and emerging sensation Cam Roigard can be the best scrum-halves not just for the Hurricanes but also in New Zealand.
His remarks were spot on, as Roigard’s development last season was impressive enough to win him a World Cup ticket and a shot at the global championship. His aggressive game is reminiscent of Perenara, which is fantastic to see.
While Perenara only mentions Roigard and himself, the Hurricanes have another shining star at nine in Jordi Viljoen, who has been in excellent form at the start of his career. The son of a former Springbok may struggle for game time now that the veteran has returned, but he is in an ideal situation to learn from world-class players.
Above all, it will be a delight to see one of Perenara’s main characters and performers back to the field of play; Super Rugby Pacific will benefit from it.
